On searching through the records of early
settlement in, various parts of New South Wales one cannot help noticing the
part played by the early pioneers, who went forth from Parramatta to blaze
a trail through the then, unknown parts of the State - colony it was
then.

As a matter of fact, one may follow
the trail from Parramatta right through to (Geelong, Vic., of which
more anon.

The old-fashioned town of Tumut, notable
for its beautiful avenues of English trees.

The native name was Doomut, meaning a camping ground, and thither in
1829 went one of the Warbys, of Campbelltown.

Five years previously Hume and
Hovell during their exploration of the country south of Goulburn had
seen the beautiful Tumut Valley, and probably their report induced Warby,
McAlister and Rose to take up land there.

Throsby, of Liverpool, and afterwards
of Bong Bong, Rowland and John Oakes, of
Parramatta, had already pushed out as far as Bindo,
and Crookwell, and Oxley McArthur Jamison, Henry Badgery
were pioneering around Goulburn.

W. McArthur and Captain McAlister
squatted next to each other at Taralga, Dr. Gibson pioneered "Tirranna," Wm. Faithful, of Richmond, "Springfield,"
and Major Lockyer, of Ermington, "Lockersleigh."

During 1830 J. H. Rose took up
1200 acres between the Tumut and Goobragardra Rivers.

The
Shelleys, of Parramatta.

No name stands higher in the early history
of Parramatta than the Shelleys, who, by the
way, were related to the poet of the same name. William Shelley was a
missionary in the South Seas under the London Missionary Society.

He afterwards owned a trading schooner and
settled in' Parramatta.

His son George Shelley, during
1833, married in Parramatta Miss Amelia Waddy, daughter of an officer of the
50th, or Queen's Own Regiment, and the progenitor of a notable
family more or less associated with Parramatta history for over 100 years.

Mr. and Mrs. George Shelley - both
young people, soon after their marriage, settled at "Bombowly,"
Tumut, and for nearly 12 months Mrs. McAlistor was
the only other white woman resident for miles around.

The McAlisters
were at "Darbylara," and Mr. Keighern at "Brungul.

"Tumut Plains, subsequently
called "Camelot," the home of the Shelleys, was
always the home of religion and refinement; it was, and probably is still, a
long rambling cottage, with long verandahs more or
less sheltered by flowing vines and shrubs; in front of the house was
a very nice lawn.

"Tumut Plains" may be
described as the birthplace of the Church of England in Tumut, for
George Shelley was the first secretary of the local church trust, and
the first correspondence on the subject was between Bishop Broughton, Rev.
C. F. Brigstocke and himself.

It is interesting to note in this
connection that the Government surveyor surveyed the site for the
church and parsonage, and afterwards that of the proposed township.

The
Broughtons.

In St. Luke's cemetery, Liverpool, a very
old vault bears the name of Acting Commissary-General Broughton, who died
30/7/1821, aged 53 years.

This gentleman was the father of
J. A. and R. K. Broughton, and a progenitor of that highly esteemed
gentleman, Mr. Broughton, for many years C.P.S. and Chamber
Magistrate at Parramatta Court House.

Mr. J. A. Broughton and Mr. R. K.
Broughton arrived in the Tumut district in 1837, a sister marrying James
Garland, who succeedled Mr. Warby at "Darbylara."

J. A. Broughton took up "Cookup," but afterwards sold out and removed to
Denliquin.

R. K. Broughton, who married a sister
of Mr. Walter Church, founded "Gadara."

Other old Parramatta names appear in the
records, as for instance, Miss Elizabeth Shelley, who married Rev. S. Fox, the
wedding taking place in "Camelot."

William Shelley, who married a daughter
of Rev. Thomas Hassall, M.A., of Parramatta and Cobbitty.